Participants at a highly interactive two-day monitoring and evaluation workshop held on 29^th and 30^th April 2021 have urged Makerere University to prioritise the recruitment of more technical staff under the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD) as a guarantee of effective implementation of the Policy and Regulations Against Sexual Harassment (PRASH) and the Gender Equality Policy.

The evaluation session revealed that the staffing levels at GMD were very low in comparison to the magnitude of work, which entails the implementation of PRASH, the Gender Equality Policy as well as other critical roles and responsibilities. The participants learnt that although the GMD staff structure provided for a number of technical staff, many of these positions remained vacant. It was therefore imperative for the University leadership to evaluate the staffing levels versus the expectations from each Office, pay attention to the workload for each staff, and provide financial resources and equipment/tools required for each office to achieve its targets.

The participants also emphasized the need to institutionalise monitoring and evaluation systems at Makerere University.  “An office should be established and empowered with staff to perform the task of monitoring and evaluation of University systems, processes, policies, operations, programs and projects. This is vital if we are to remain on track. With monitoring and evaluation, one is able to detect early what is not working and reasons for such a scenario and identify whether the required finances, staff, equipment and other variables were provided. This would hold leaders and staff accountable.”

According to the participants, an independent and professional monitoring and evaluation function/office would ensure value for money and effective utilization of resources, guide management and staff to quickly establish what is not working and above all, improve the performance of institutional projects, policies and operations.

The recommendations were informed by free flow of ideas premised on presentations on PRASH by Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine, Director GMD, Associate Prof. Noeline Nakasujja, Head of the Department of Psychiatry-Mak College of Health Sciences (CHS), Dr. Gertrude Sebunya Muwanga an expert in Monitoring and Evaluation, and Prof. Moses Kamya-Mak CHS among other facilitators. 

Focusing on the program goal that seeks to strengthen the institutional capacity of Makerere University to implement and evaluate the policy strategies on sexual misconduct and harassment, the monitoring and evaluation workshop brought on board staff and students to critique PRASH.  The event was courtesy of a grant received by the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, CHS in collaboration with the University of Washington at St. Louis from the National Institute of Health Fogarty International Centre.

In line with the best practices that necessitate a thorough understanding of the subject under critique, the organisers provided the essential information materials, experts, programmes and delivery styles to enable each participant gain a deeper understanding of PRASH.  Each participant also received a hard copy of PRASH for reference purposes.

To set the pace, Dr. Mugisha Baine provided an overview of PRASH, taking care to define what constitutes sexual harassment. According to the policy, sexual harassment means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours or unwanted physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.  The policy is accessible on the Policies Website at this link: https://policies.mak.ac.ug/sites/default/files/policies/Policy-and-Regulations-Against-Sexual-Harassment-2018.pdf

Empowered with the necessary background information, participants pointed out the progress so far, implementation challenges and gaps. Some of the observations and measures include:

1. Mak’s commitment to zero tolerance to sexual harassment lives on through the steps undertaken in the implementation of PRASH. Participants noted that the PRASH policy was reviewed, stakeholders were consulted during the review process, and the Vice Chancellor appointed the standing Roster of 100 that constitutes a pool of staff who would be called upon to investigate sexual harassment cases. The members of staff constituting the Vice Chancellor’s Roster of 100 were inducted, trained and equipped with knowledge and skills in preparation for the task ahead.                
2. The GMD has conducted a number of sensitization engagements with staff and students through training workshops, dialogues, talks during the freshers’ orientation, and coordination of competitions/campaigns among students aimed at averting sexual harassment and sexual abuse.
3. The policy is easily accessible on the Mak Policies Website. Hard copies of the same are in print in a light and friendly booklet format freely distributed to members of staff and students.
4. GMD has deliberately engaged Mak Management and other key university units such as the School of Law, Directorate of Legal Affairs, School of Women and Gender Studies, Mak Public Relations Office, Mak Students’ leadership in PRASH awareness activities/programmes/campaigns.
5. GMD has reached out to several partners and stakeholders such as the; UN Women, Embassy of Sweden, The Spotlight Initiative among others, to eliminate violence against women and girls.
6. GMD in partnership with the Public Relations Office has engaged the media in the coverage of PRASH awareness and sensitization drives/programmes.
7. Reported cases of sexual harassment have been investigated, and the culprits suspended and/or dismissed in line with PRASH and other laws governing the country.
8. Messages have been shared encouraging students and staff to take be bold and report sexual harassment cases.
9. Sensitization and training workshops have emphasized the PRASH position on the need for leaders to report and act on all complaints of sexual harassment.  ‘According to PRASH, any person in authority who receives a complaint of sexual harassment and fails to take any pro-active step to progress the matter in a timely and appropriate manner commits an offence and shall be subject to disciplinary action.”

During the workshop, the participants noted some challenges in the implementation of PRASH. These include; limited funding to the GMD, low staffing levels at the Directorate and lack of representation of GMD staff at the respective Colleges, which affect the implementation of PRASH and the Gender Equality Policy.  Due to limited funding, the Directorate is not able to sustain sensitization activities. Some of the participants revealed that a number of victims still fear to report sexual harassment cases.

Providing the way forward, participants underscored the need to recruit more staff that are technical and provide the required financial resources for GMD to effectively undertake its mandate. They highlighted the need to intensify sensitization to staff and students as well as implored GMD to come up with strategies for the Vice Chancellor’s Roster of 100 to help coordinate activities and programmes at the College level.

On 30^th April 2021, the facilitators equipped participants with knowledge on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) including understanding of key terms such as M& E system, plan and framework. At the end of this session, the participants stressed the need to institutionalise monitoring and evaluation systems at Makerere University. 

Wrapping up the plenary session, Prof. Moses Kamya reiterated the need for all members of staff to undergo training in gender issues and sexual harassment.

Closing the workshop, Associate Prof. Nakasujja applauded the participants for dedicating time to participate in the training, evaluating the PRASH and providing valuable input that will strengthen the institutional capacity of Makerere University to implement and evaluate the same. In the same spirit, she commended the project staff for their commitment towards the successful delivery of the training workshop.

Article by: Mak Public Relations Office